Author: Veronica Charalambous

EPIC Curriculum Implemented Through Youth and Youth Worker Trainings in the Western Balkans

Written by Veronica Charalambous on 19/12/2025. Posted in Project News.

Following the development of the EPIC Training Curriculum on Social Entrepreneurship and the completion of the Train-the-Trainer Workshop and Study Visit in Athens, Greece, the EPIC project advanced to its next crucial phase: the implementation of training activities at local level. These trainings translated the project’s educational resources and methodologies into practice, directly engaging youth workers and young people across the Western Balkans.

Project partners in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo organised and delivered a series of training workshops tailored to two key target groups: youth workers, including professionals and representatives of youth organisations, and young people aged 15–30. The workshops were designed to apply a cascading training model, enabling participants who had graduated from the Training of Trainers (ToT) in Greece to transfer their knowledge, skills, and experience to their local communities.

The primary objectives of the training implementations were to enhance participants’ competencies in social enterprise management, effectively communicate the tools and methodologies developed during the earlier phases of the project, and adapt the EPIC Curriculum to local social and economic realities. Additionally, the workshops aimed to foster sustainable learning communities and strengthen connections among participants, encouraging long-term collaboration and peer learning.

Overall, the training activities reached 60 youth workers and 60 young people, generating high levels of engagement and enthusiasm across all target groups. While initial assessments revealed that many participants had a limited understanding of social entrepreneurship, often associating it primarily with philanthropy, the training sessions successfully shifted perspectives and built a solid foundational understanding of social enterprise principles. Participants also provided valuable feedback and constructive suggestions that will contribute to the further refinement of the EPIC Curriculum.

The training implementations marked a significant milestone for the project, successfully cultivating a culture of social entrepreneurship and inspiring a new generation of young people and youth workers to develop innovative, community-driven solutions for social change.

The EPIC Training Curriculum on Social Entrepreneurship aims to strengthen the entrepreneurial capacities of young people in the Western Balkans by equipping them with practical tools, knowledge, and resources to develop a social entrepreneurship mindset and skill set.

The EPIC project recognises the power of young people as drivers of positive social transformation. It seeks to empower youth workers and young people in the Western Balkans to become active citizens and social entrepreneurs by supporting them in identifying social challenges, developing innovative ideas, and transforming those ideas into sustainable social enterprises.

Aligned with the EU’s EaSI (2020) perspective, EPIC highlights the role of social enterprises in addressing social issues through civic engagement, particularly among disadvantaged groups. By promoting social entrepreneurship, the project contributes to reducing youth unemployment, fostering community development, and creating meaningful job opportunities in underserved social and environmental sectors.

The EPIC project specifically aims to:

Foster cooperation across regions through joint initiatives
Strengthen the capacity of organisations working with young people outside formal education
Support the development of quality youth work
Promote non-formal learning and active youth participation in society

More information about the project is available at: https://epic-project.eu/

INNOVATE Project Successfully Concludes

Written by Veronica Charalambous on 18/12/2025. Posted in Project News.

The Erasmus+ funded INNOVATE project has officially come to an end, marking an important milestone in strengthening how innovation is planned and managed within adult education, vocational education and training (VET), and European Vocational Enterprises (EVEs). Throughout its implementation, the project has supported educators and organisations in embedding innovation as a structured and practical element of everyday work.

INNOVATE has delivered a comprehensive set of results tailored to organisations at different stages of their innovation journey. Key outputs include a White Paper outlining major challenges and future directions for innovation management in education and training, as well as a Self-Assessment Tool enabling organisations to reflect on current practices and identify areas for improvement. In addition, the Manual on Innovation Management provides step-by-step guidance for planning and managing innovation processes, complemented by a dedicated Training on Innovation Management to support skills development. A Trainers’ Guide has also been developed to assist educators and trainers in delivering high-quality innovation-related learning activities.

These results have contributed to strengthening planning, coordination, and decision-making around innovation among educators and VET professionals. By promoting a more structured and reflective approach to change, the project has supported quality enhancement and long-term organisational development. Collaboration between partners from several European countries further enabled the exchange of experiences and good practices, reinforcing shared learning at European level.

Although the project has formally concluded, its impact will continue. All INNOVATE results remain freely available online and can be used beyond the project lifetime to support training activities, organisational development, and professional learning in adult education and VET.

All project resources can be accessed at https://innovate-project.eu/. Stakeholders are encouraged to explore, download, and share the materials with colleagues and professional networks.

The partnership would like to thank all partners, educators, and stakeholders who contributed to the success of the INNOVATE project. The project leaves a lasting legacy of practical tools and knowledge to support innovation in adult learning and VET across Europe.

ACT4DYS ePortfolio Successfully Piloted Across Five European Countries

Written by Veronica Charalambous on 18/12/2025. Posted in Project News.

The ACT4DYS ePortfolio was successfully piloted among youth workers, young people, and young persons with disabilities in Belgium, Cyprus, Ireland, Spain, and Portugal.

The piloting phase aimed to test, review, and validate the ACT4DYS ePortfolio ahead of its final launch, ensuring that its content, accessibility, usability, and relevance meet the needs of its target groups and align with the project’s objectives on disability-inclusive and sustainable urban development.

More specifically, the pilot sought to evaluate the quality of the ePortfolio’s content, its accessibility features, and overall user-friendliness, assessing its effectiveness in promoting inclusive and sustainable city practices. It also aimed to validate the innovative and replicable nature of the featured case studies across diverse contexts, while gathering structured feedback from different target groups to inform further improvements.

The initial goal was to engage 125 participants in the piloting process. This target was exceeded, with a total of 132 participants taking part: 55 youth workers, 43 young people, and 34 persons with disabilities.

Overall, the ePortfolio was very well received. Participants expressed high levels of satisfaction and provided positive feedback on its content and approach. At the same time, valuable suggestions were shared, particularly regarding further enhancements to accessibility. The ACT4DYS consortium will integrate as many of these improvements as possible prior to the official launch of the ePortfolio, reinforcing its commitment to inclusivity and user-centred design.

Learn more about the project: https://act4dys.eu/

AGRITECH Consortium Meets in Hungary for Transnational Project Meeting

Written by Veronica Charalambous on 18/12/2025. Posted in Project News.

The AGRITECH consortium recently met in Hungary for a Transnational Project Meeting, bringing together partners from across Europe to review progress and coordinate the next steps of the project. AGRITECH aims to transform agricultural education by integrating advanced technologies, innovative learning approaches, and modern management practices, responding to the evolving needs of the agricultural sector.

The meeting was organised to ensure effective coordination among partners, review ongoing work, and plan upcoming activities. Through open discussion and joint planning, partners aligned their efforts and reinforced collaboration across countries, sectors, and disciplines involved in the project.

During the meeting, partners reviewed progress across the different work packages and discussed the status of key deliverables. Particular attention was given to the development of the AgriTech Manager competence profile and the design of the learning ecosystem that will support future training and certification. The consortium also discussed the next phases of the project, including preparations for pilot activities, further development of the AGRITECH platform, training implementation, and upcoming policy-related outputs.

The face-to-face format of the meeting played an important role in strengthening shared understanding and ensuring quality and coherence across project activities. It also provided valuable opportunities for knowledge exchange between partners from education, research, and the agricultural sector, supporting a common vision for the project’s outcomes.

Looking ahead, the consortium will continue working closely on the implementation of planned activities and the delivery of upcoming milestones. Partners remain committed to coordinated action and regular communication to ensure the successful implementation of the project across all participating countries.

Learn more about the project: https://agritech-project.eu/

Empowering Youth Voices Across Europe: Highlights from GET POLITICAL Newsletter #2

Written by Veronica Charalambous on 16/12/2025. Posted in Project News.

The GET POLITICAL project continues to strengthen political literacy across Europe through research, exchange, and practical tools for youth engagement. Recent activities include the development of National and Transnational Political Posters, a comparative overview of political realities across partner countries, and the launch of the Booklet of Political Literacy Practices, a hands-on resource for youth workers and educators tested through national pilot sessions.

A key highlight of this period was the three-day Exchange of Political Literacy Practices in Kalamaria, Greece, bringing together partners, young people, and local authorities to explore Youth Councils and participatory strategies at municipal level.

Learn more about the project, here: https://getpolitical-project.eu/

Discover the full story, insights, and what’s coming next in Newsletter #2, read the complete edition on our website.

MineTOUR Project Concludes with Innovative Digital Tools Empowering Rural Youth

Written by Veronica Charalambous on 11/12/2025. Posted in Project News.

The MineTOUR project has reached a major milestone with the successful completion of its core activities, marking significant progress in supporting young people and rural communities through digital innovation in tourism promotion.

Central to the project’s achievements is the finalization of the MineTOUR Minecraft game, an interactive educational tool designed to engage young people in exploring and promoting rural tourism. The game was introduced and tested during multiple Info Days and validation sessions across partner countries, providing opportunities for youth and local stakeholders to shape its final development through hands-on feedback.

Another key outcome is the launch of the Interactive Digital Map, an online platform enabling users to highlight points of interest in their regions, from cultural sites and local shops to natural landscapes and walking trails. Contributions from all partner countries have resulted in a diverse and vibrant digital guide showcasing the richness of rural destinations.

As part of its efforts to strengthen digital skills among young people, the project also delivered TikTok training sessions, equipping participants with the ability to create compelling short-form videos to promote their hometowns. This training supported youth in becoming active ambassadors, sharing local stories and increasing visibility for rural tourism through creative digital storytelling.

The project concluded with a final series of Info Days presenting the latest results and tools to young people, rural communities, and youth-work professionals. Participants were encouraged to continue using the MineTOUR resources to foster sustainable tourism and support local development beyond the project’s official end.

The consortium expressed its appreciation to all partners, educators, youth participants, and community members whose contributions were vital to the project’s success.

Learn more by visiting the project’s website: https://minetour.eu/

Marinos Papaioakeim, CARDET: Empowering Civil Society through EUPP5 Project

Written by Veronica Charalambous on 10/12/2025. Posted in Project News.

In view of the forthcoming assumption of the Presidency of the Council of the EU by the Republic of Cyprus, CARDET research center is assuming a central role as National Coordinator of the EUPP5 (EU Presidency Project 5). Through this initiative, the active participation of Civil Society is strengthened and the alignment of national priorities with European initiatives is ensured.

Dr Marinos Papaioakeim, CARDET’s Strategic Partnerships and Development Lead, speaks about the project’s ambitious goals, its key actions, and the organisation’s pivotal role in shaping a more inclusive and equitable Europe.

1. What EUPP5 project is, and why CARDET has taken on such an important role in its implementation?

The EU Presidency Project 5 (EUPP5) is a civil-society led initiative, co-funded by the European Commission, running under the Trio Presidency of Poland, Denmark and Cyprus (2024-2026). Its ambition is to promote inclusive and sustainable international partnerships, giving voice to civil society organisations (CSOs) across Europe and beyond, while increasing public and political awareness of the EU’s global role, especially the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From CARDET’s side, we are honoured to serve as the National Coordinator for Cyprus. In that role, we lead national coordination, facilitate stakeholder dialogue, mobilise civil society locally, and link Cyprus efforts to the broader, Europe-wide EUPP5 consortium, led by CONCORD Europe.

2. What are the key objectives of EUPP5, and which of them are particularly important for CARDET and Cyprus?

EUPP5 has several core objectives. Among them: enabling civil society to shape inclusive EU partnerships; ensuring that the EU and its Member States engage in meaningful, co-responsible international cooperation; and enhancing awareness and reflection on the EU’s global role and development agenda. For CARDET and Cyprus, it is especially significant that EUPP5 fosters an environment where civil society organisations, youth, professionals, public bodies and the general public can engage meaningfully in discussions about Europe’s global role. This inclusive engagement model aligns closely with CARDET’s mission around sustainable development, social justice, education and civic participation.

3. What are some of the concrete activities and mechanisms through which EUPP5 will work, and what role will CARDET play in these?

EUPP5 will pursue a variety of activities: public awareness campaigns, workshops, debates and events; opportunities for civil society, including a Small Grants Scheme for CSO-led initiatives; Brussels study visits; and policy events on themes such as sustainable development, global cooperation, civic space, green transition, and the SDGs. As national coordinator, CARDET will facilitate stakeholder engagement in Cyprus: convening CSOs, public bodies, youth organisations, academia and other actors, supporting grant applications, organising events and capacity-building initiatives, and ensuring that Cyprus’ voice and civil-society’s perspectives are fed into the broader EUPP5 and European-level processes.

4. What does CARDET hope will be the long-term impact of EUPP5, both for Cyprus and for the broader European community?

Through EUPP5, CARDET aims to strengthen the role of civil society in shaping EU policies on development cooperation, sustainability, social justice, and global solidarity. For Cyprus, the hope is to create stronger civic engagement, more informed public discourse, and active participation of CSOs, youth and other stakeholders in shaping Europe’s international cooperation agenda. For Europe more broadly, EUPP5 seeks to foster a more inclusive, transparent and fair model of global partnerships, anchored in the values of democracy, sustainability and shared responsibility.

5. Why is CARDET an ideal partner for leading such an initiative? What strengths does the organisation bring?

CARDET brings a strong track record of research, education, sustainable development, capacity building, and civic engagement across different sectors in Cyprus and the wider Euro-Mediterranean region. In 2022, CARDET collaborated with the Commissioner for Citizens to develop the Republic of Cyprus’ National Strategy on Active Citizenship and Participatory Governance. This initiative strengthens democratic engagement, empowering citizens to shape their communities and contribute to a more inclusive society. Our experience with EU-funded projects and our network of civil society, academic institutions, public bodies and stakeholders make us uniquely positioned to coordinate a complex initiative like EUPP5. Moreover, our commitment to education, social justice and community development aligns perfectly with the aims of EUPP5. We believe that CARDET’s involvement ensures that the project’s design and implementation remain inclusive, transparent, and impactful for Cyprus and beyond.

To learn more about the EUPP5, please visit: https://cardet.org/eupp5/

This interview was published in English at the Policy Press & in Greek at the In Business News.

The European AELIA Project Launches a New Crowdsourcing Platform for Sustainability Initiatives

Written by Veronica Charalambous on 09/12/2025. Posted in Project News.

The European project AELIA, implemented in Cyprus by CARDET, the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute, and the Unit for Education for the Environment and Sustainable Development (EESD) of the Ministry of Education, has launched a new online crowdsourcing platform aimed at strengthening citizen participation and facilitating the exchange of ideas and collaboration on sustainability initiatives.

The platform is open to educators, citizens, local authorities, and community groups who wish to take practical action towards creating more sustainable schools, neighbourhoods, and communities. Through a user-friendly and interactive environment, users can create new sustainability initiatives, support existing actions, and communicate in real time through comments and discussions.

The platform encourages collaboration and networking by providing a space for the exchange of ideas and the collective implementation of projects related to environmental, social, and educational sustainability. It is available in four languages (English, Greek, Serbian, and Romanian) and remains open to users from around the world, who can create new initiatives or support those already in place.

In parallel, within the framework of the AELIA project, a series of online seminars (webinars) were delivered, offering guidance, practical advice, and examples of good practice for the design and implementation of sustainability actions at local and school level.

The crowdsourcing platform forms an integral part of AELIA’s broader efforts in Education for Sustainable Development. By promoting the exchange of knowledge, good practices, and innovative ideas, it supports the development of sustainable solutions that respond to the real needs of local communities. Through collaboration and active participation, AELIA contributes to empowering communities across Europe, promoting environmental protection, social responsibility, and sustainable education.

Learn more about the AELIA project: https://www.aelia-project.eu

CARDET Participates in Final RALExILA Conference and TPM in Brussels: Building the Backbone of Lifelong Learning

Written by Veronica Charalambous on 05/12/2025. Posted in Project News.

CARDET contributed to the concluding activities of the RALExILA project in Brussels on 3-4 December, participating in the Final Conference on Adult Learning and Education (ALE) Registries and Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs) as well as the project’s Final Transnational Project Meeting.

Hosted at the Pullman Brussels Centre Midi and organised by the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA), the Final Conference brought together representatives from European institutions, national authorities, social partners, employers, and adult learning stakeholders. The event explored the emerging landscape of digital infrastructures that underpin ILAs, emphasising the governance models and national registries required to support learner autonomy and skills development across Europe.

During the discussions, CARDET highlighted the importance of building transparent, interoperable national registries that can serve as trusted reference points for learners, providers, and policymakers. The organisation participated alongside key Cypriot stakeholders, including the Human Resource Development Authority of Cyprus (HRDA) and the Cyprus Employers & Industrialists Federation (OEB). Their presence underscored the necessity of coordinated action among public authorities, employers, and training providers for establishing resilient lifelong learning ecosystems.

Expert contributions, including interventions from OECD, the European Commission, and consortium partners, addressed critical dimensions of the emerging systems for adult learning:

Interoperability and common standards, such as the European Learning Model, which are essential for ensuring the portability and recognition of skills across borders.
Quality assurance mechanisms, reinforcing that the value of national registries relies on the accuracy, reliability, and transparency of the information they contain.
Learner guidance and support, which remain indispensable for enabling adults to navigate opportunities within ILAs and broader adult learning frameworks.

The conference also provided a platform for EU-level dialogue on good practices, interactive workshops, and the presentation of initiatives that support future ALE policy and implementation. The following day, on 4 December, project partners convened for the Final TPM to review the project’s outcomes, sustainability pathways, and recommendations for advancing ILAs across Europe.

For further information on the RALExILA project and its outputs, please visit the project website at https://ralexila.eu/

Exploring Rural Creativity: MINEtour Reaches Key Milestones – Newsletter #4

Written by Veronica Charalambous on 02/12/2025. Posted in Project News.

The MINEtour project is nearing completion with several key milestones that strengthen rural youth participation in local tourism and cultural heritage promotion. Over recent months, the consortium successfully finalised and validated the MineTOUR Minecraft game, launched the Interactive Digital Map featuring local businesses, cultural sites, and nature trails, and delivered TikTok training sessions that equipped young people with creative digital storytelling skills. These achievements provide youth with practical tools to showcase their hometowns and actively engage in sustainable tourism initiatives.

As the project concludes, partners express sincere appreciation to all young participants and community stakeholders who contributed to its progress. The final round of Info Days marked another important milestone, offering an opportunity to present the latest tools, results, and resources to rural communities and youth-work professionals.

To explore the full story and access the project’s outputs, we invite you to download the latest MINETOUR 4 newsletter.

Download the Newsletter #4